Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Dunbridge
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Dunbridge and Hampshire, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Community events and fairs
- Company summer parties
Live paella catering in Dunbridge
Paella catering for your event in Dunbridge
There is something generous about paella: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It makes the food an event in itself. We’re frequently asked to cater christenings and family gatherings and retirement and leaving parties, with vegetable paella, black rice and vegan paella.
Somewhere like Dunbridge, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Common questions in Dunbridge
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Andrew: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is Dunbridge from London?
About 70 miles from central London.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Which paella is most popular?
Two or three is usual: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Paella compared with other options
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why choose Love Paella in Dunbridge
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us how many children are coming
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell generally draws people over. Planning an evening event in Dunbridge? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it’s frequently the first pan to empty.
Planning live paella in Dunbridge
Dunbridge is about 4 miles north-west of Romsey, in Hampshire. Events in Dunbridge are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Dunbridge is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover. We cook right across the region, from Dunbridge to Southampton (10 miles away).
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Andrew, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Awbridge Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Here we cover the SO51 postcode area. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Mottisfont (1 mile north-east), Kimbridge (1 mile south-east), Stonymarsh (1 mile north-east), Carter's Clay (1 mile south-west) and Lockerley (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Winchester (10 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles south-east), Andover (13 miles north), Totton (8 miles south), Chandler's Ford (8 miles south-east) and Hedge End (13 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Romsey Community Hospital (3.9 miles south-east) and King Johns House (3.5 miles south-east).
- Pubs nearby include The Bear And Ragged Staff Public House (0.9 miles east)
Towns and villages near Dunbridge
What else we do in Dunbridge
Who books paella catering in Dunbridge?
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Dunbridge and Hampshire:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Community events and fairs
For guests coming by train, Dunbridge has its own station, Mottisfont & Dunbridge station.
Questions to ask before you book
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How late numbers can change
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether travel is included
How we price paella catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Parking and unloading
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Whether you need crockery
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Expected numbers
- What the venue already provides
- The date and rough timings
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff